22 replies to this topic

[roygbp]

Hi,
So basically I just moved into my college dorm, and I wanted some advice on how to secure my connection. Hell, just a while ago my computer told me it detected an xbox on the network and asked if I wanted to install some sharing software or something (not my xbox). I also heard that you WILL get caught using P2P software.

Any advice?

[ShadowLink64]

I've used file sharing on my university's network and I was never caught or reprimanded for it. Depends on the university though, probably the US is more stringent.

And you could use onion routing to encrypt your connection but it's slow as hell. Therefore, I'm not sure.

[Random]

Number 10 reminds me of Dallas.

[Waterloo]

Yeah, apparently you could get caught and fined for downloading files via Limewire on the network at my university.. I did it and never got caught though.. I think they just use a scare factor on you.

[roygbp]

I'd feel better if I did "something" though, if just for a placebo effect . Any Vista network settings advice? Or some 3rd party program that automatically sets various "sharing" settings for you? I know that my computer asked me something about where I was getting my connection from (home/work/public; I chose "public"), but I doubt Vista can optimize with 1 button.

[Random]

Fuck I posted in the wrong thread.

[Elindoril]

Is it a hotspot connection, or is it your own connection? I'm betting on it being the Universities internet, so I suggest Hotspot Shield if you haven't heard of it yet.

[roygbp]

Is it a hotspot connection, or is it your own connection? I'm betting on it being the Universities internet, so I suggest Hotspot Shield if you haven't heard of it yet.

Um, I'm not sure what you mean. It is a wired connection; there's an ethernet socket in my dorm room.

But I just tried this Hotspot Shield, and I have three qualms:
1. It opens an ad I have to close manually at the top of every page I visit?
2. I think it slows down my connection
3. Does it only secure web pages I visit? What about downloads and random local network (other dorm members) intrusions? Anonymity/security from other people in my "network" is what I'm looking for most.
Thanks for taking the time to reply regardless, though

[Elindoril]

Um, I'm not sure what you mean. It is a wired connection; there's an ethernet socket in my dorm room.

But I just tried this Hotspot Shield, and I have three qualms:
1. It opens an ad I have to close manually at the top of every page I visit?
2. I think it slows down my connection
3. Does it only secure web pages I visit? What about downloads and random local network (other dorm members) intrusions? Anonymity/security from other people in my "network" is what I'm looking for most.
Thanks for taking the time to reply regardless, though

1.)The ad doesn't go away unless you disconnect from the program, it's just one of the quirks of using it I guess.

2.)The slowdown of your connection is something I don't know much, might be because the connection process connects you to a server far away from your dorm, and since the your internet runs through that, you'll get a little lag while browsing.

3.)For the downloads, the site quotes:

Hotspot Shield protects your identity by ensuring that all web transactions (shopping, filling out forms, downloads) are secured through HTTPS.

So you're anonymous as long as you don't log into something:

Unless you choose to sign into a certain site, you will be anonymous for your entire web session with Hotspot Shield.

[xZel]

SSH tunnel.
example/tut:
http://dag.wieers.co...http-tunneling/

[Cyo]

idk about usa but it's legal to download shit in my country, but illegal to sharing it. When I was in trade school I pretty much disabled all uploading with torrents. (not sure about how you'd set that with limewire since I don't use shit)

[iargue]

1)Ipsec that shit. (Wont work with websites )
2)Peer Gaurdian for torrents (Worth a shot)
3)Try using Your Freedome (A guide to using it to play wow is here - http://www.mmowned.c...ur-freedom.html, will work for other programs too, like Limewire)


You can also use OpenVPN Mode with Your Freedom.

I've played WOW using OpenVPN while at school, and had 200 latency, thats great for going through a proxy.

Edited by iargue, 06 September 2009 - 12:11 AM.

[Cyo]

I'd suggest against peer guardian. Heard it's shit.

[Metigue]

Yeah a VPN is your best bet, Hotspot shield is a VPN and so is Freedome

[iargue]

I'd suggest against peer guardian. Heard it's shit.

Its great for preventing people from downloading your Torrent, but not from protecting against people stealing your data at their router.

[Noitidart]

I used bittorent on college network heavily. No prob lol

[Bryan]

I go to ASU, downloaded probably about a terabyte of materials from torrents and not gotten a letter for it once.

[Nick]

The likelihood of you getting in trouble with your University is very small. Hell, I went to a small boarding school in western Massachusetts with about 500 kids. About 90% of them were using P2P software and my school, despite the typical "do not do this you will get in trouble" message at the beginning of every year, never caught or punished anyone.

[iargue]

Colleges do not Actively monitor their data, but if they get a Notice from the RIAA or something, then they will take action.

[Metigue]

Colleges do not Actively monitor their data, but if they get a Notice from the RIAA or something, then they will take action.

The likelihood of that is extremely small.

By the sounds of all of this testimony, your best bet is just braving it. xD

Edited by D3ath t0 nubs, 07 September 2009 - 07:26 AM.

[redlion]

Torrents, not limewire.

Also your university might participate in file sharing services like ruckus. which is

# Ruckus
Ruckus is a free service for college students. It provides access to over 2 million songs. The main drawbacks are that it does not currently work on Macs, and that the songs have to be played on a computer or a portable device that supports Windows media files (so no iPods).
# Subscription services

I too, have had no problems at my university in this regard.

[MasterJunpei]

if your university was really against P2P file sharing they would have just blocked the major ports etc used for it and it wouldn't even connect. San Jac and Sam Houston State do that.

[nonotjj]

aye... my college was blocking major ports used for p2p... but most p2p programs let you choose the port